possible
A1Neutral (used across all registers)
Definition
Meaning
Capable of happening, existing, or being true without contravening natural or logical laws.
Used to refer to what is permissible or acceptable; to indicate the best that can be achieved or expected; (informal) used to express annoyance or disbelief.
Linguistics
Semantic Notes
"Possible" indicates feasibility or potential without specifying probability, which is the domain of "probable". It often implies external factors allowing an outcome, contrasting with "able", which focuses on inherent capability.
Dialectal Variation
British vs American Usage
Differences
No significant differences in core meaning or usage. Minor variations in common collocates (e.g., slightly higher frequency of 'as soon as possible' in AmE business contexts).
Connotations
Identical.
Frequency
Equally high frequency in both varieties.
Vocabulary
Collocations
Grammar
Valency Patterns
It is possible (for somebody/something) to do somethingIt is possible that + clausepossible + noun (attributive)as + adjective (e.g., soon, long) + as possibleVocabulary
Synonyms
Strong
Neutral
Weak
Vocabulary
Antonyms
Phrases
Idioms & Phrases
- “Within the realm of possibility”
- “Everything humanly possible”
- “A possible exception”
Usage
Context Usage
Business
Used to discuss project feasibility, market opportunities, and contingency planning (e.g., 'We are exploring all possible avenues for growth').
Academic
Used to hypothesize, qualify statements, and discuss theoretical potential (e.g., 'A possible explanation for this phenomenon is...').
Everyday
Used to discuss plans, options, and permissions (e.g., 'Is it possible to meet tomorrow?').
Technical
Used to describe system capabilities, parameters, or states within defined constraints (e.g., 'The maximum possible load is 5kg').
Examples
By Part of Speech
adverb
British English
- She was possibly the most talented musician there.
- Can you possibly lend me a hand?
- I'll see you tomorrow, possibly around noon.
American English
- He is possibly the smartest person I know.
- Could you possibly close the window?
- I'll finish the report today, possibly by 5 PM.
adjective
British English
- Is a same-day delivery possible?
- We must consider every possible scenario.
- He is the only possible choice for the role.
American English
- Is same-day delivery possible?
- We need to look at all possible scenarios.
- She's the only possible candidate for the job.
Examples
By CEFR Level
- It is possible to learn English online.
- Is it possible to have water, please?
- I will come as soon as possible.
- Finding a solution is still possible with more data.
- They investigated every possible cause of the failure.
- It's just not possible to finish all this work in one day.
- Given the current budget constraints, further expansion is no longer possible.
- The study examines whether time travel is theoretically possible.
- She made it possible for hundreds of students to attend university.
- The treaty made possible an unprecedented level of international cooperation.
- It is entirely possible that the assumptions underlying our model are flawed.
- He argued for the barely possible chance of a diplomatic breakthrough.
Learning
Memory Aids
Mnemonic
Think of 'POSSIBLE' as containing 'PASS' and 'ABLE'. If you are 'able' to 'pass' a test, it is POSSIBLE.
Conceptual Metaphor
POSSIBILITY IS SPACE (e.g., 'opening up possibilities', 'within the bounds of possibility', 'a wide range of possibilities').
Watch out
Common Pitfalls
Translation Traps (for Russian speakers)
- Do not directly translate "возможно" as "possibly" when it is used as a sentence adverb meaning 'perhaps'. In English, 'Possibly, he will come' is less common than 'Perhaps/Maybe he will come.'
- Avoid the calque "It is possible + infinitive" without 'for + object' where needed. Russian "Это возможно сделать" becomes "It is possible to do it" or "It can be done."
Common Mistakes
- Using 'possible' with a personal subject (e.g., *"I am possible to finish" instead of "It is possible for me to finish").
- Confusing 'possible' (capable of happening) with 'probable' (likely to happen).
Practice
Quiz
In which sentence is 'possible' used CORRECTLY?
FAQ
Frequently Asked Questions
'Possible' describes whether an event or action can happen at all, often due to external circumstances. 'Able' describes a person's or thing's inherent skill or capacity to do something. For example, 'It is possible to lift the rock' (the rock is not too heavy in principle) vs. 'He is able to lift the rock' (he has the strength).
Typically, no. 'Possible' is often considered an absolute adjective (something is either possible or not). For degrees of likelihood, use 'more/most likely', 'more/most probable', or phrases like 'more feasible'. However, comparative/superlative forms are occasionally used in informal contexts for emphasis (e.g., 'That's the most possible explanation we have').
The standard pattern is 'It is possible that + subject + verb...'. For example, 'It is possible that she forgot.' The word 'it' is a dummy subject in this construction. Do not use a person as the subject with this meaning (e.g., not *'She is possible that she forgot').
Yes, the primary noun form is 'possibility'. For example, 'There is a possibility of rain.' 'Possible' itself is not used as a noun in standard modern English, though archaic uses exist (e.g., 'the best of all possibles').
Collections
Part of a collection
Basic Adjectives
A1 · 46 words · Fundamental describing words used every day.